diff --git a/zebra-network/src/peer_set/initialize.rs b/zebra-network/src/peer_set/initialize.rs
index d306475b722..98b32648809 100644
--- a/zebra-network/src/peer_set/initialize.rs
+++ b/zebra-network/src/peer_set/initialize.rs
@@ -607,6 +607,13 @@ where
             let _guard = accept_span.enter();
 
             debug!("got incoming connection");
+
+            // # Correctness
+            //
+            // Holding the drop guard returned by Span::enter across .await points will
+            // result in incorrect traces if it yields.
+            //
+            // This await is okay because the handshaker's `poll_ready` method always returns Ready.
             handshaker.ready().await?;
             // TODO: distinguish between proxied listeners and direct listeners
             let handshaker_span = info_span!("listen_handshaker", peer = ?connected_addr);
@@ -638,6 +645,9 @@ where
                 handshakes.push(Box::pin(handshake_task));
             }
 
+            // We need to drop the guard before yielding.
+            std::mem::drop(_guard);
+
             // Rate-limit inbound connection handshakes.
             // But sleep longer after a successful connection,
             // so we can clear out failed connections at a higher rate.